Chicago startup UPshow is turning TVs inside restaurants and bars into social media engagement tools, and it just raised a new round of funding to bring its product to more venues.
UPshow announced Thursday that it has raised $6 million in a Series A round led by Washington, D.C.-based TDF Ventures and Chicago-based Jump Capital. The startup raised a $1.5 million seed round in 2017 from a group of angel investors that included Howard Tullman, Fieldglass founder Jai Shekhawat and ex-Playboy CEO Scott Flanders.
Using a Google Chromebit that's plugged into the HDMI port on a TV, UPshow allows establishments to display customers’ smartphone pictures on their in-house screens. When a customer takes a picture and posts it to social media---adding hashtags for UPshow and the name of the business---their picture displays on the TV screen. The idea is to drive social media engagement for the businesses and keep customers staying longer and spending more.
While customers engage with a venue's TV screens, the establishment is able to feature promotions and provide relevant local content. Furthermore, UPshow's backend allows businesses build a customer database of their most passionate social media users and offer them a coupon for their next visit.
Founded in 2015, UPshow says it has worked with more than 4,500 businesses ranging from bars to healthcare facilities. Its customers have included Buffalo Wild Wings, Margaritaville, Crunch Fitness and ATI Physical Therapy.
"UPshow gives businesses a reason to think beyond solely directing their marketing efforts on external advertising," Adam Hirsen, UPshow’s CEO and co-founder, said in a statement. "Rather, they can focus on maximizing engagement and driving behaviors when consumers are within their four walls."
